So we’re sussing out dates for the next fabric-a-bracs now… Looking at May next year for Wellington and perhaps March for Sydney. We’ll let you get through Christmas first!

If you haven’t had time to make all those Christmas projects you were thinking of, there’s some great markets on in the next few weeks – suss out the ‘Trunk fairs” run by the Craft 2.0 team in Wellie – sure to be full of gorgeous things!

From me – Merry Christmas! Thanks for all your support of the event – it’s been awesome. See you in the new year.

Well, I am starting to get into the Christmas spirit, and usually that means piling up a whole lot of things I’d like to make for presents to give to people. Far more things are already on my list than I’d be able to make if I had until Christmas 2012.

But what I will do, is make my own Christmas cards. So much nicer than commercial ones, and often they can be really simple. I’ve set aside a night next week to dedicate to this, so I’m optimistic of making it for the cheaper postal price for a change too.

Here’s a wee selection of some gems I found on the internet. I like this snowman although it looks like a lot of work. These Christmas trees are more up my alley – i did something similar one year but glued the fabric rather than sewing it. Cool Mummy has some lovely cards and the Angel one is a great idea. But if you use red or green lovely fabric you can almost get away with any shape to make your cards feel Christmassy.  The gingerbread man in this tutorial is my favourite.

Have fun

 

If anyone else has found any great sites, or has made their own that they’d be happy to share, please post them!

So, this weekend we hit the big (Australian) smoke with our inaugural event in Sydney. I’d like to shout out (that’s “yay!” not “arghhh”) to Kaila, my lovely partner in fabric obsessiveness, who has done an awesome job putting the event together. She’s really kept to the spirit of Fabric-a-brac, and what I appreciate most was her commitment to Hospice Thanks Kaila! She’s totally full with heaps of interesting-sounding stallholders, so spread the word if you have mates in Aussie and head down to Redfern this Saturday. So exciting.

A note for those who were in Wellie last weekend – someone dropped a camera in the carpark – get in touch with me if you lost one and I will reunite you with it.

I’d say “Phew” but it was too much fun. I have sore feet and am totally knackered, but what a brilliant day it was. Wellie put on a stunning day another fab Fabric-a-brac. Thanks to all the wonderful stallholders and enthusiastic buyers for making it a great vibe. Think we are on over $1500 raised for Hospice so really delighted at the momentum. But now, I need to sleep. Here’s a few pics – I’ll add to the collection soon. Good luck with all your projects and don’t forget to tell all your friends about FBB in Sydney next weekend.

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We’re all ready to go for the Wellington event. Measuring session tonight and set up. Event starts at 9.15am on Saturday through to 12.30pm. This really does look like the biggest event ever. Threaded Red are having a huge clear out of their vintage stocks and there is a mountain of bargain fabric on the Hospice table. Come along and have a tea or coffee and sweet treat and help us raise money for Hospice at the same time. See you there – come and say hi to me – Josie if you have any questions or are interested in a table for next time.

Here’s the DIC bag and some other fabric that’ll be on offer on Saturday while I’m at it – here’s some of the lovely things that will be on offer on Saturday from our Christchurch evacuee Cheryl. Don’t forget there are three tables of goodies from the donated items for Hospice – most priced from $2 to $8. I have found 5metres of a wool mix, and some great vintage patterns.

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From World of Wearable Art winners, to an online vintage website selling off all their stock, we have a huge amount of amazing treats from our stallholders coming up at the Wellington fabric-a-brac on November 5th. Please help us spread the word and see you there. 9.15am to 12.30pm. Here’s some lovely samplings to whet your appetite. Look at the gorgeous DIC vintage paper bag. Think that’s going to be framed for permanent display.

I’ve had a few questions on what’s ‘hot’ and what’s ‘not’ for fabric-a-brac, so I thought I’d get it all out in the open for potential stallholders, and those of you who are coming along!

Fabric-a-brac is about ‘things to make things’. Admittedly it’s a fine line sometimes, with the upcycling movement in full swing!But I’m pretty clear on what things are obviously able to be reused, and what is more likely to be used for it’s original purpose. So what in (what’s hot) is (not an exclusive list!):

• fabric
• lace and trims
• needles/thread/scissors/unpickers etc
• sewing machines and knitting machines
• knitting needles and wool
• craft-related books
• patterns
• doilies
• woollen blankets

WHAT’S NOT

anything already made up – for example:

• clothes (as a rule, although we have had a stall full of kimonos so this is a rule I can bend, but you’ll need to check with me)
• cushions/cushion covers
• crocheted/knitted blankets and quilts and er – your dirty old duvet covers (no, seriously)

Any questions or clarification on this let me know

Well, all the stalls are now gone for fabric-a-brac in Wellington in November. I am oversubscribed by about six tables as well. Great for me and the event, not so good for those of you who missed out.

If you’d like a table and are happy to have one outside (weather-dependant) get in touch. This is still an option, and unlike other fairs I won’t make you pay if the weather is rubbish!! You’ll have to book though. fabricabracwgtn@gmail.com.

Also an important notice- we are totally overloaded with donated fabric for hospice – we have around 50 boxes of fabric. Again a GREAT boon for those who are coming along to buy, not so great for those of you who were looking to offload your wonderful stash of fabric. I’m afraid you will have to hang onto it for next time, we are not taking any more donated fabric.

 

 

The date for the Sydney fabric-a-brac is now confirmed – 12th November, 11am-3pm,, Redfern Town Hall  73 Pitt St, Redfern, Sydney. Excited! Tell all your Aussie mates The Brisbane FBB was fab, but we reckon this is going to be huge.

You can email fabricabracsyd@gmail.com for more info or check out www.fabric-a-brac.com, our  website for events outside New Zealand.